Hawthorn Club community has family appeal

A close-knit community and good schools attract buyers to the Hawthorn Club neighborhood in Vernon Hills.Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

These homes on Chesterfield Lane are typical of those found in Hawthorn Club.Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

The Cuneo Museum and Gardens hosts an annual holiday lights show that attracts many visitors to Vernon Hills.Daily Herald File Photo

By Sherry GiewaldDaily Herald Correspondent

When Barb and Marc Rosenstock sought a larger home for their growing family, they simply stayed in Hawthorn Club, the Vernon Hills neighborhood where they live and purchased a more spacious home.

"We remodeled the house to be what we always wanted, and we like our nice yard with trees," Barb Rosenstock said. Her favorite room in their home is her office with a window seat -- a room with a view.

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Price range: $350,000 to $400,000 classic series; $400,000 to almost $600,000 estate seriesAge of homes: 20 to 25 years oldSchools: Hawthorn Elementary South and Hawthorn Middle South schools in Hawthorn School District 73 and Vernon Hills High School in Community High School District 128Parks: Vernon Hills Park District

"Every day someone walks by and says hi," Rosenstock said. "I grew up in a rural area, so it's nice to see people, all kinds of people and children, dogs, new puppies. I like having people around.

"We have great neighbors, and everyone is really friendly. We have block parties and progressive dinners. We've met a lot of neighbors who have become our friends."

When the couple originally moved to the subdivision 19 years ago, a big draw was having lots of kids in the neighborhood for their children to play with, in an area where their kids could play outside and ride their bikes in the street because there was little traffic.

Hawthorn Club, situated off Route 45 east of Route 83 and west of Milwaukee Road, was constructed by United Builders. The neighborhood offers two series of homes, the classic series in the front of the subdivision and larger homes in the estate series in back, said Leslie McDonnell, broker associate with RE/MAX Suburban.

"Typically homes with three bedrooms feature 1,800 square feet while larger four bedroom homes range from 2,100 to 3,600 square feet, depending on amenities and location," McDonnell said. "All homes have a two- or three-car attached garage and a nice sized lot, and some homes back to the golf course."

Area schools are also a big draw to the neighborhood. The subdivision feeds into Hawthorn Elementary schools and Vernon Hills High School, which a lot of people like, McDonnell said. "Hawthorn is new, has a very good reputation, and people are pleased with it."

Homes are at the age where a lot of people are updating their homes. Many residents are redoing their kitchens and including amenities such as stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and wood floors.

Hawthorn Club sits in a walk-to-train location, which is very appealing to a lot of people. The neighborhood is also near Route 60, the shopping hub of Lake County, restaurants and entertainment and has easy access to the tollway.

"Vernon Hills is a fabulous community and a great place to raise a family. Most of the time people want to stay there; they just move around within the town," McDonnell said.

Recreation is big in Vernon Hills with many park district programs and events. Hawthorn Club residents live near the Vernon Hills Athletic Complex with all kinds of ball fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, a skateboard park and bike paths.

The Glacier Ice Arena is a state-of-the-art facility with two NHL-sized ice surfaces that offer a skating academy, figure skating club, adult hockey league and public skating.

One of the community's well-known attractions is the Cuneo Museum and Gardens where the Cuneo family lived for more than 50 years. Built in 1914 to resemble homes of the wealthy in Venice, Italy, 18 of the 32 rooms are open to the public. The Winter Wonderland light show on the grounds of the museum is a popular event in the winter.

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